“Savannah, wake up,” somebody shook me and I groaned, turning away from whoever wants to disturb my time of solitude and sleep.

In other words, don’t wake me up when I’m asleep or else I’ll murder you.

“Savannah,” another attempt.

I cracked on of my eyes open to meet with those green ones that were the same shade as mine, the ones I inherited from my father. I groaned as I pulled the blanket over me, “No.”

He chuckled at this, trying to pry away the sheets from my hands. I’m perfectly comfy, thank you very much.

“Go away, Drew,” I mumbled.

Hold up, Drew!

My eyes shot open as I stared at my brother. He sat on my bed, his hair was an obvious mess, and he still had his coat on, a clear indication that he just came home.

The bags under his eyes were a sign that he was exhausted but the grin he was showing was really something else. I flung my blanket off as I jumped into his arms, hugging the life out of him. Unlike most sibling relationships, my brother and I actually got along really well.

“You’re here,” I voiced out, finally pulling away, “Why didn’t you tell me you’re arriving today.”

He shrugged as he got off my bed, straightening the clothes I messed up, “Surprise.”

“Where’s Celeste?” I asked, jumping to my feet, referring to his wife. He chuckled at my enthusiasm as he pointed out of my door.

“Downstairs, go greet her while I go wake up mom and dad,” he said and I didn’t need to be told twice. I grabbed the nearest pair of slippers as I raced out of my room, practically tripping on the heels I carelessly thrown on the floor when I got home last night.

Skipping two steps at a time, I ran down the stairs and turned to get into the living room when I saw my dear sister-in-law talking on the phone. She caught sight of me and she gave me a small smile, turning back to the person on the other line.

“Alright, I’ll get back to you with those reports, happy holidays,” she finally bid farewell, placing down the device and turning to me.

Her belly was definitely growing, it wasn’t bulging yet that it made her appear that she was going to pop anytime soon, but it was big enough to indicate that she was indeed pregnant.

“Hi,” she greeted, opening her arms to invite me into an embrace which I gladly took.

I would never forget how much she took care of me, even as somebody who was just Drew’s friend, she was already considered as part of the family. You can just imagine our joy when we heard the news that they were getting married, and now, they’re expecting.

“Celeste Everett!” we heard my mom yell as we heard her thundering footsteps, she had the biggest grin on when she practically shoved me away just to give her a hug.

“Nice to see you too, Ariel,” Celeste laughed, returning the gesture, she mustered up a small wave to my father who just entered the room with my brother.

Seeing my family complete is the best Christmas present that I can have.

“Traveling with a pregnant lady is definitely hard,” Drew sighed dramatically which earned a death glare from his wife. He raised his hands in surrender before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Rolling my eyes at their display of affection, I scoffed jokingly, “You two are making me sick.”

“Says the girl who danced with a certain boy last night outside the house,” mom teased, plopping on the couch next to Celeste.

My mouth hanged open as I stared at her bring out her phone to show us a wonderful shot of me and Jasper swaying on the sidewalk last night.

How in the world?

“Is that Jasper?” Drew squinted at the picture and I gulped audibly, “The boy you used to always hang out with?”

“You two are friends again?” Celeste inquired.

“More than friends,” Ariel giggled and I looked at her, my brain trying to process everything.

She saw us dancing last night and even caught it on camera.

The doorbell rang and I was praying to the heavens that it wasn’t Jasper. If he suddenly entered right now, I have no idea what’s going to happen to him.

Drew went to get the door and I almost pulled him back, but he was quick and when he opened the damn thing, it was the devil himself.

He looked shock at the sight of my brother, but I for one, am shock at the two bouquet of roses in his arms. On his right was bigger than the one he brought to me last night and the other was smaller.

Who knew he would actually get me more roses?

“Drew!” he looked absolutely mortified, “You’re home.”

My brother eyed the roses before his gaze switched to him then he settled them on me. I guess it wouldn’t take too long to connect the dots.

To my absolute surprise, he slammed the door right in front of Jasper’s face before turning to me and dusting off his hands, “Now where were we?” and he started to walk back into the living room as if the boy standing right outside of our house never came.

I scrambled around to open the door once again, even though I can hear Drew’s protests in the background, I stepped outside and gave Jasper an apologetic look, “Sorry about him.”

“He’s here?” he asked the obvious and I nodded.

Now why in the world is he acting like this?

“Don’t worry about Drew,” I tried to comfort before pointing out the two bouquets in his arms, “But please explain this.”

He looked down on them before giving me a sheepish grin, “I thought you still weren’t satisfied with the one I gave you last night, so I bought you two more options.”

This guy is really the sweetest.

He gave them to me, and I gave him an appreciative smile, “Thank you, but you didn’t have to get me these.”

He shrugged as he jammed his hands into his pockets, “But I wanted to.”

Even though he was saying these words to me, his eyes were still glued to the open door behind me, as if a monster was going to appear.

No monster came, but Celeste did pop out her head, “Jasper.”

The said boy straightened up in attention as he gave an awkward wave to my sister-in-law, “H-hi.”

“Why don’t you come in?” she offered, “Ariel just started to prep up some hot chocolate and her famous cookies.”

Without a moment of hesitation, he shook his head, “No thank you.”

Frowning at him, I gripped the roses harder as I saw Celeste pout at his answer, before retreating back into the house. I stared at him and scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion.

He’s suddenly acting so uncomfortably.

We parted ways, but as I got back inside my house, I turned to my brother and gave him a questioning look, “What happened to him?”

Drew merely shrugged, eyeing the roses before a smirk overcame his lips, “Does my baby sister have a boyfriend.”

My cheeks flamed up as I turned away so he won’t see my face. Well, this is embarrassing.

“Just saying, if he’s going to date you, he has to go through me first,” suddenly turning all overprotective big brother mode.

Celeste laughed at this, shaking her head, “You know he’s been wanting to say that for a long time now.”

“In my defense, Savannah has never shown an interest in a guy before,” he sighed, “But I hope he’s serious with you.”

“He’s just my friend!” I emphasized, groaning when I saw their knowing looks.

They think they have this all planned out, but nope, whatever they assuming is just completely wrong.

Jasper and I are just friends, no matter how much you look at it, we’re not a couple.

But I think we all know this tiny part of me is wish that we were.

Dad came inside the room and lifted an eyebrow at the bouquets in my arms, “He brought you more, I thought the one last night was enough.”

 “I vote that Jasper comes over to have dinner with us,” Celeste clapped, “Wouldn’t that be amazing?”

No, absolutely no.

I could almost picture it – Jasper sitting awkwardly as Drew fired question after question at him, my mom and Celeste will be giggling all night, my dad will just stare at us like this was a football game, and I would just be mortified on my spot.

“He can’t do that,” I rejected the idea, Celeste turned to me and quirked her head to the side in question.

“And why not?”

Alright, Savannah, think of an amazing and brilliant excuse. We’re taking too long to answer, open your mouth now before you they suspect something.

I expect an answer to come out of your mouth in three seconds, it must intelligible and believable.

Three, two, one, “Jasper and I already have plans tonight.”

My eyes widened when I blurted out those words, I instantly slapped a hand on my mouth.

Thank you, brain, you’ve been such a good help.

Mom popped her head from the kitchen, a clear indication that she was eavesdropping as every single member of my family stared at me, their faces blank for a moment.

Stop being so stupid, Savannah.

“You have a date,” they all accused simultaneously.

“We don’t have a date,” I denied, waving my hands up in the air, attempting to lessen the damage.

Though knowing me, I will just make things worse.

“So he’s joining us for dinner?” Celeste added, and I turned to also reject that idea.

“No!” I yelled all too quickly.

She raised a brow and I’m currently begging the earth to open up and swallow me. Please, I won’t mind if that happened right now.

“But you said that you don’t have a date with him tonight.”

Somebody please explain that a night out with a boy does not equate to a date. If I opened my big mouth, I’m pretty sure that this conversation will last more than it’s supposed to and the end result will not go in my favor.

“We’re going out as friends,” I urged.

Wait a minute, I don’t really have plans with Jasper tonight and I’m doing my best to defend something that’s not real.

“Alright then,” mom drawled out, carefully easing back to her baking with a cheshire grin.

Great, that’s how I ended up with my open window as I waited until Jasper got back into his room so I could ask him about tonight. Now I plainly look like a stalker.

If he says no, then I’ll just beg him to go through with my excuse.

I saw the door to his bedroom open he got inside. When he saw me sitting here, he grinned, waving to me before stepping to his window, opening it to allow the cold winter air to enter his room.

“Hi,” he greeted, looking absolutely elated.

At least he’s no longer a nervous wreck.

“Do you have plans tonight?” I asked casually, leaning against my chair.

He looked surprise by my question, but answered it anyways, “Well, some guys invited me to go bowling with them.”

I frowned at this, well, it looks like I have to endure the torture known as my family tonight by myself, plus, they’ll drill me after they find out that my pathetic excuse was just a lie.

“Alright then,” I sighed, pushing myself up to my feet, “I just thought maybe we could go out later.”

I was about to say goodbye and close my window, because it was starting to get cold, but he raised a hand to stop me. His eyes showed panic as he yelled a lot louder than he was supposed to, “Stop!”

I jumped up in surprise as I stared at him, my hand gripping my windowsill, “Yes?”

“Let’s go tonight!”

“But you’re going bowling,” I pointed out.

“I can cancel, you’re asking me right now,” he instantly replied, “Where do you want to go? A movie? A fancy restaurant?”

He looked like a child getting asked to go the candy store, he was practically radiating with excitement and joy.

“I vote the mall, so we could do some Christmas shopping while we’re at it,” I shrugged and without a moment of hesitation, he nodded at my request.

I gave him a small smile before saying my goodbye, closing my curtain. Just in time, my phone started ringing from my bed.

Walking up to it, I saw Tristan’s name flashed across the screen, answering it, I plopped down on my bed, grabbing a pillow to hug.

“What do you think Kyla will like as a gift?” was the first words that came from the other line.

“Well, hello to you too,” I muttered sarcastically as I heard the background noise from the other line, “Where in the world are you?”

“At the mall,” he yelled through the mindless chatters, “Help me!”

“Jasper and I are going there,” I told him, “I can convince him to leave now so we can meet up.”

“I think you’re quite forgetting that my best friend is expressing some sort of dislike towards me at this moment,” he joked.

Rolling my eyes at his statement, I rolled on my stomach before an idea popped into my head.

“You working tomorrow?” I questioned, lazily hitting on the pillow.

He hummed in confirmation as a plan stirred inside my head. Excellent, my idea will go flawlessly.

Unless, you know, the universe is against me like it always is.

A few hours later, I’m standing outside my house as I watched Jasper approach me, waving his keys to indicate me that we’re taking his car.

I hugged my coat tighter around my body as I approached him, “Mind if we have lunch together tomorrow?”

Jasper may no longer want to be my friend after tomorrow, but it was worth a shot. Besides, this could already be his Christmas present to me. I just want this stupid argument to be over, even though I have no idea what’s the cause of it.

“Like a date?” he asked as he escorted me to his vehicle.

My throat dried as I opened my mouth to answer him, “Whatever you want to call it.”

Even though I tried to make it sound casual, I was mentally freaking out in the inside.

This is not a date, Savannah, this is not a date.

Jasper wrapped an arm around my shoulder, it was loose as if he was testing if I would shrug it off. Good for him, I didn’t.

The problem was, I bowed my head down so he couldn’t see my cheeks turning red like a tomato.

Oh Jasper, stop this if you really value our friendship, because if this continues, I’m going to fall for you harder than how I used to.

----------------------------

I missed writing about Drew and Celeste so much, this chapter just gave me a fuzzy feeling as I wrote it. If you're all curious about them, they actually have their own story, Falling For The Opposite, you'll see hints of Savannah there as well when she was just an innocent little girl. And speaking of which, that book is getting published, I've been holding it in for months now, I'm so happy to just announce it.

But anyways, this was an opening for the next chapter, and it all depends on you guys. Insert the word 'vanilla' in your comment if you want it to be told in Jasper's POV.

Dedicated to @loveYJHD for the awesome banner on the side. Alice looks extre pretty there.

Question: What's Savannah's plan?

I love you guys, you have no idea how much you guys cheered me up after the whole escapade with my teacher. When I was feeling so down, I forgot the reason why when I read your comments. Please vote, comment and follow before you go!